Indonesian operator chooses to acquire Fokker 100 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia
Indonesian VIP charter operator PT Exspres Transportasi Antarbenua is acquiring a Fokker 100 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia to replace a Gulfstream I and Beech King Air 350.
PT Exspres' Singapore-based aircraft broker and consulting agency, Asia Corporate Jet, says an ex-BMI British Midland Fokker 100 has been acquired and later this month will be ferried from the UK to Australia, where it will be retrofitted with 24 business class and 13 VIP seats.
PT Exspres, branded as Express Air, plans to place the Fokker 100 into service by the end of June. The aircraft will be used mainly for corporate shuttle and VIP flights within South-East Asia and PT Exspres is looking at installing an extra fuel tank to give it enough range to reach China.
It also plans to complete the acquisition of a France-based Brasilia this month to use mainly for short-haul domestic flights. The Brasilia will be reconfigured with 12 business-class seats.
Jakarta-based PT Exspres, formerly PT Pos Exspres Prima, is one of only a few VIP charter operators in Indonesia. Most business aircraft there are owned privately and not generally available for charter.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
